HSO of Yuma declares a no-kill community
The Humane Society of Yuma is declaring that Yuma will be a no-kill community.
HSO of Yuma said t he term, no-kill, is an animal welfare industry status that is defined by a 90% or more live release rate.
This 90% standard has been adopted as the goal for animal rescues and shelters by most national animal welfare organizations.
The remaining 10% or less is reserved humane euthanasia for sick/injured animals and animals deemed to be a danger to the community, aggressive.
In 2017, the live release rate for cats was only at 17% and has now increased to 68%. They said dogs have achieved no-kill status for the last two years.
Annette Lagunas, executive director of the shelter, said a big reason for increasing the live release rate for cats has been the ability to better treat ringworm and rabies.
Achieving the no-kill status exemplifies best practice standards for animal rescues and shelters.
No-kill Yuma is a community initiative that will celebrate love and respect for the animals in the community.
Lagnas said this should be a reason to celebrate especially since they are one of the first to achieve it without having another shelter in the community.
With the support of the people in Yuma County, HSOY hopes to end the unnecessary euthanasia of animals at their shelter.
According to HSOY, Yuma County is very close in reaching the 90% live release rate.
Animals need Yuma to take action on the four life-saving pillars which will place Yuma on the map to be a No-Kill Community.
FIX – Spay/neuter your pets. ADOPT – Choose to adopt your pet, choose to save a life. IDENTIFY – Microchip and License your pets. DONATE – Time, goods or Money. In addition, Lagunas encourages people to only bring in kittens if they appear to be sick, injured or alone.
If you see a litter without their mother, it may simply mean the mother is out hunting.
As the only animal shelter in Yuma County, the Humane Society of Yuma remains to be an open admissions shelter, caring for over 8,000 animals annually.
Animal welfare is a community, public health issue.
The Humane Society of Yuma has been open-minded and has implemented progressive shelter practices to transform animal welfare in Yuma with the support of national animal welfare organizations and the research behind the methodology.
For example, the shelter is now open seven days per week.
Their hours are:
Monday – Friday: 10 A.M. – 6 P.M.
Saturday’s: 10 A.M. – 5 P.M.
Sunday’s: 12 P.M. – 4 P.M.
They hope these new hours will help prevent intake, shorten the length of stay, and improve quality of care.
This will allow for more opportunities for owners to microchip and vaccinate their pet.
Additionally, the shelter asks they are the first person who looks for and turns in a lost animal.
There are many programs that the shelter hopes to implement in the coming months.
The Foster To Adopt program allows people to foster cats and kittens to get them out of small kennels and grow up in a healthy home.
Dogs Day Out gives the community a chance to take out dogs that are vaccinated and work well with other animals.
Lastly, the shelter has now opened up the dogs in building three which has been reserved for lost or abandoned pets.
People can now place a $20 deposit on these animals and be able to adopt them if the allotted amount of time has passed for an owner to come and get their pet.
